Mel Gibson's Anti-Semitic Tirade

If Mel Gibson doesn't become a pariah, I'll be amazed. On the one hand, there have been reports for years that the actor and creator of Passion of the Christ is anti-semitic. On the other, if the following police report is accurate, now there's evidence of it straight from his own mouth.

Once inside the car, ....the report says Gibson told the deputy, "You mother f****r. I'm going to f*** you." The report also says "Gibson almost continually [sic] threatened me saying he 'owns Malibu' and will spend all of his money to 'get even' with me."

The report says Gibson then launched into a barrage of anti-Semitic statements: "F*****g Jews... The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world." Gibson then asked the deputy, "Are you a Jew?"

Interestingly, this may even make Gibson a pariah to Roman Polanski....

Gee... I hope this doesn't interfere with his plan for a nonfiction production of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. [Insert eyeroll here.]

2. Posted by TomStewart
July 29, 2006 11:21 AM

I'm shocked to find that Gibson is nuts and thinks that Jews control the world. If they did, couldn't they stop him from doing Christian snuff films?

3. Posted by Aaron
July 29, 2006 11:29 AM

Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ was itself a passion play, straight out of 12th century medieval Europe. Many people say that it's historically and biblically accurate, but I don't know where in any version of the Bible or in historical records that portrays little Jewish children as demons who hound Judas in two hanging himself. I wondered did that come directly from a passion play, or did Gibson come up with that segment on his own.

Anyone who's watched the movie can see the Romans are depicted as little more than unwitting pawns in the crucifixion of Christ at the hands of the Jews.

Nothing more than anti-Semitic slander at its very worst. But I don't think we can really hold Mel responsible, since he grew up in a home where he had that type of propaganda drummed into his head. I pity the man, as I pity all who harbor and disseminate such hate and prejudice.

4. Posted by soccerdad
July 29, 2006 11:32 AM

what a wack job!

5. Posted by Che's Lounge
July 29, 2006 11:36 AM

I don't get it. The Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus? I thought dogma says he was supposed to die.

6. Posted by J Pierpont Flathead
July 29, 2006 11:41 AM

The man goes around with a beard and haircut that mimic Saddam Hussein, and it's news to you that the dude is a whackjob?

I am not quite sure this is a straight 'Mel Gibson is anti-semitic' confirmation. He said that the Jews are 'responsible for all the wars in the world' with a current one being a middle east crisis which he might have been worked up about. Actually quite a few people on the left are annoyed with Israel and most of the UN for that matter.
Gibson's following line 'are you a Jew?' is only meaningful if the context in which he said it is known. He could be feeling that he was insensitive/owed an apology/etc.
Anyway I am not out to defend Gibson and do not embrace his view of Catholicism and his nearly schismatic church in Malibu. In my view he simply will not accept Vatican II or papal authority - he showed disrespect to John Paul II when he didn't like the Vatican's line that he hadn't said 'it is as it was' etc. Of course his arguments with the vatican on theological matters are of greater importance but it was a public display of his feelings.
As to your suggestion that he won't escape this with a good public image - he definately will. The comments are offensive enough to bother 'us' but not likely his target audience...and besides in hollywood money in the form of good box office movies makes all wrongs forgotten. Mel's proven that he can make money off a film in a dead language with an innovative advertising method.
his relationship with the sheriff probably was not the primary factor in any alleged special treatment - it's more likely that the fact he is Mel Gibson gave him special treatment.

His alleged comments? Idiotic and narrow-minded. A career-ender? Doubt it.
While I disagree with his particular slant on Christianity, it's fascinating to me why this is such monumental news. Movie stars say stupid, idiotic things in public earshot all the time. It isn't like he is a member of the U.S. Senate! And, as far as "wack jobs" go, I don't see Tom Cruise's or Kanye West's careers slowing down! So let's be grown-ups and condemn what he said without making more out of this than it really is.